Esteves
A Portuguese and Galician surname meaning “son of Esteve/Stephen,” ultimately from the Greek name for “crown” or “garland.”
The #8,439 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 78,903 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Esteves is a patronymic surname formed from the personal name Esteve, the Portuguese and Galician form of Stephen. That name goes back through Latin Stephanus to Greek Stephanos, meaning “crown” or “garland.” In effect, the surname originally meant “son of Stephen” or “descendant of Esteve.”
History
The surname is characteristic of Portuguese and Galician naming, alongside related forms such as Estevão-derived surnames in other traditions. It became hereditary as family names stabilized in the late medieval and early modern periods. Today it is found especially in Portugal, Galicia, Brazil, and other Portuguese-speaking communities, with smaller numbers in the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because it comes from Stephen, Esteves is part of a very large European surname family that includes Stevens, Stephenson, Esteban, and Estevez.